Rudisha has revealed the one race he ran back in 2017 that forced him to consider early retirement from track.
Legendary former 800-meter runner David Rudisha has finally revealed the grueling challenges that led to his decision to step away from competitive athletics after 2018.
The Kenyan middle-distance icon, whose remarkable 1:40.91 world record set at the 2012 London Olympics remains untouched, explained that injuries had taken a heavy toll on his body, ultimately forcing his premature exit from the sport.
Rudisha is widely regarded as the greatest 800-meter runner of all time, having broken the world record three times in his career.
In 2010, within the space of a week, he twice shattered the previous record, clocking 1:41.09 in Berlin before improving it to 1:41.01 in Rieti. Two years later, he produced one of the greatest performances in Olympic history, winning gold in London with a stunning 1:40.91, leading the race from start to finish in what is still regarded as the perfect 800m race.
His dominance continued with another Olympic gold at the 2016 Rio Games and two world titles in 2011 (Daegu) and 2015 (Beijing). His speed, elegance, and tactical intelligence made him an unbeatable force when at his peak.
Despite his triumphs, injuries began to plague Rudisha after his Rio 2016 victory. In a bid to regain peak fitness, he experimented with the 1000-meter event during the build-up to the 2017 World Championships, hoping to improve his endurance. However, that decision would ultimately prove costly.
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“The results were terrible, and my body felt bad—something I had never experienced before,” Rudisha revealed, as quoted by Nation. “I told myself, ‘Not again.’”
That 1000m race exposed the physical toll years of intense competition had taken on him. “My body had not felt like that before… it was crazy,” he admitted. “After that, I ran one more 800m race, and that was it. I have never competed again.”
For some athletes, moving up in distance has been a way to extend their careers, but Rudisha found the transition impossible due to weight issues.
“Some athletes are lucky to return and perform, but that was not my case since I was a bit heavy,” he explained. “I was perfect in the 400m, 600m, and 800m, but moving up proved difficult.”
Although Rudisha’s career was cut short by injuries, his impact on middle-distance running is immeasurable. His 1:40.91 world record remains the gold standard in the 800m, and his front-running, fearless racing style redefined the event. Few athletes have dominated their discipline the way he did, and his legacy as one of the greatest athletes in history is firmly secured.
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